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The elevator ride is dark and shaky. The ride stops and goes, dropping quickly and then at a more stable pace. The cage around you trembles and shakes, and the girl clings to the lever. Underground smells of earth and water, and something else you can't quite place that's reminiscent of the scent at the inn. You begin to ask the girl questions. ❝How long have you been working for the Grant family, Miss . . . ?❞ ❝N - not long. About four months now ... My name? Um. They call me Amber.❞ ❝Why is it that all residents of Bentley have green eyes?❞ ❝I - um. I'm not sure ...❞ The girl is clearly very uncomfortable. ❝So, if you don't mind my asking, I'd like to know how you know that song you're humming.❞ ❝Oh, I don't know what the song is, I just ... I've heard it before. There was this girl here for a while and she sang it a lot ...❞ ❝So Ms. Would you mind telling me what it's like working for the Grants?❞ ❝It's okay ...❞ Torvald speaks and the girl breathes out in relief. ❝Why do you feel so anxious, so nervous? Is it simply a natural characteristic of yours? You have nothing to fear. How often do people -- Bentley residents, outsiders, or otherwise -- visit this mansion?❞ ❝I don't like it down here ... How often? Well ... Bentley residents come by often for parties. Outsiders ... Well, they come for different reasons ... It's not often we need to take someone down here, though.❞ The girl quiets and the elevator jumps to a stop. The gate opens and the maid steps out onto dirt, still trembling. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out another piece of candy, nervously shoving it into her mouth as if it's a pill, before taking a step into the inky blackness. From out of her apron she pulls a flashlight. ❝The friends you're looking for ... what do they look like?❞ Competent descriptions given. The maid nibbles on her bottom lip, trying to process it all. Then, without a word, she moves forward into the darkness. Underground is basically a cave at first, dark and musty. Then, as they continue walking, it branches off into three directions. She takes the middle tunnel and presses on, shining the light to lead the way. They stumble upon a completely misplaced stairwell, pure porcelain, that leads further down. Above the railing are candles. The maid lights them slowly as you go. As soon as you reach the bottom floor, the girl slides her card again and unlocks a heavy metal door. She holds it open for you all and trails in behind you. White lights flicker on. The area is completely white and seems to be nothing much more but an incredibly long hallway stretching in both directions. The walls of the hallway are covered with large, circular metal doors - like vault doors. All is silent. Outside of each door seems to be a personal file of some sort, complete with a picture and a short description of the person and the events leading up to their capture. The door shuts behind you and Amber is gone.
oh my GOD. I was going to say 'the food of my people' but i just can't do it I CAN'T. I'M SORRY, I SHAME US ALL
Delilah slides the piece of candy into her mouth, clearly savouring the taste, and stares at Bryan with deep interest. When he finishes speaking, she stands up and motions for the maid [ who stands in one of the doorways ] from earlier to come to her aid. The girl shuffles over to her obediently. ❝Seeing as how I've places to be, my servant here will guide you.❞ The maid looks up quickly, staring at Delilah with a quiet, pleading look. The empty tray she holds in her arms begins to tremble and her face visibly pales. Delilah either fails to notice or doesn't care. She hands the girl an authorization card and leaves the living room without another word to you. The maid crosses over to the coffee table with a mumbled apology. She takes a piece of candy for herself and pops it into her mouth before standing in the center of the arch that separates the living room from the entrance of the house. ❝Keep close,❞ she murmurs. Her voice is soft but clearly high strung. The girl waits for all of you to gather before taking a step through the archway. You are lead passed the front door and through what seems to be an exquisite dining area. The table is set with a variety of kitchen plates, glasses, forks, spoons and knives. As you walk through, she begins to hum. It's a song from The Girl in Watercolors and should be familiar to you. You are lead outside and into what appears to be an incredibly large and diverse garden. The assortment of flowers, plants and shrubs is cut off from the outside world by a tall, silver fence. She continues to hum, clearly nervous, as she walks you passed the second of four fountains on the residence and down a gentle slope of brick. Out in front of you, you can clearly see the entrance to a lush hedge maze. As you're lead through the maze, the girl's humming becomes louder and louder as if she's trying to combat some kind of rising anxiety. She knows exactly where to go, turning passed dead ends and enticingly parted hedges and vines until you reach the center. A large marble dome stands, caged off to you. The girl clumsily reaches out to slide the authorization card through some kind of control panel. It beeps twice and prompts aloud for a password. She messes up twice, but the third time is a success [ she seems extremely relieved that this is the case ]. The gate surrounding the dome begins to part open around the structure and moments later a second gate springs open, allowing you all to step into a shabby looking elevator lift. The maid takes a deep, steadying breath and pulls down on a rusty lever, sending the elevator plummeting down into darkness.
gags x
From one of the doorways comes Delilah Grant, wife of Patrick, wearing a long, glittering white gown. She doesn't seem very pleased about seeing you here, and takes a seat across from you without a greeting. Her legs fold and she scans over your little group with clear contentment. ❝... My husband and I have some ... preparations to make for the festival. He has gone ahead to Bentley Square ...❞ Her vision moves down over the candy littered coffee table before settling back on you. With a small smile, she reaches out a hand to take a piece of candy and slowly unwraps it. ❝... I assume you're here looking your friends. I don't think my husband will mind ... I can show you where they are ...❞
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